SPRINGDALE -- One of the top prospects in the Los Angeles Dodgers farm system put an end to Northwest Arkansas' seven-game winning streak Saturday night.
Tulsa right-hander Chris Anderson didn't allow an earned run in his seven innings as the Drillers beat the Naturals 7-2 to even the three-game series heading into today's rubber match.
TULSA 7, NW ARKANSAS 2
Tulsa^000^030^400^—^7^13^1
NW Arkansas^001^000^001^–^2^6^1
Tulsa^AB^R^H^RBI^BB^SO^LOB^AVG
Drake, RF^5^2^3^1^0^1^0^.276
Mateo, L, SS^5^0^1^1^0^3^3^.268
Dixon, 2B^5^1^1^3^0^1^1^.280
Anderson, La, 1B^4^0^2^0^0^0^0^.218
Mayora, DH^4^0^0^0^0^1^2^.243
Zarraga, C^4^1^2^0^0^1^0^.258
Law, LF^3^2^2^0^0^0^2^.174
Cunningham, 3B^3^1^1^0^0^0^1^.219
Witherspoon, CF^4^0^1^2^0^1^3^.217
Totals^37^7^13^7^0^8^12^
2B: Mateo, L (7), Law (1). HR: Dixon (4). TB: Drake 3; Anderson, La 2; Witherspoon; Zarraga 2; Dixon 4; Mateo, L 2; Cunningham; Law 3.
RBI: Witherspoon 2 (9), Mateo, L (6), Drake (10), Dixon 3 (27). SAC: Law; Cunningham. GIDP: Law. Team RISP: 3-for-8. Team LOB: 5. CS: Witherspoon (2). PO: Witherspoon.
FIELDING — E: Dixon (5). DP: 3 (Dixon-Mateo, L-Anderson, La 3).
NW Arkansas^AB^R^H^RBI^BB^SO^LOB^AVG
Franco, 2B^4^0^1^0^0^0^1^.331
Mondesi, SS^4^0^0^0^0^1^2^.235
Bonifacio, J, RF^3^0^0^0^1^2^1^.242
Fuenmayor, 1B^4^1^2^1^0^1^2^.365
Dozier, 3B^4^0^0^0^0^1^1^.233
Liddi, LF^4^0^0^0^0^1^0^.277
Gibbs, C^3^0^2^0^1^1^0^.341
Diekroeger, DH^2^1^1^0^1^0^1^.667
Chapman, CF^3^0^0^0^1^0^5^.182
Totals^31^2^6^1^4^7^13^
2B: Gibbs (4). HR: Fuenmayor (10). TB: Diekroeger; Gibbs 3; Fuenmayor 5; Franco. RBI: Fuenmayor (33). GIDP: Fuenmayor, Diekroeger, Chapman. Team RISP: 0-for-5. Team LOB: 7.
FIELDING — E: Binford (1). DP: (Mondesi-Franco-Fuenmayor). PO: Binford (Witherspoon at 1st base).
PITCHING
Tulsa^IP^H^R^ER^BB^SO^HR^ERA
Anderson, C (W, 4-4)^7.0^5^1^0^2^6^0^3.58
Richardson, D^1.0^0^0^0^0^1^0^2.04
Horst^1.0^1^1^1^2^0^1^2.33
NW Arkansas^IP^H^R^ER^BB^SO^HR^ERA
Binford (L, 0-1)^6.1^10^6^4^0^6^0^4.05
Peterson, M^1.2^3^1^1^0^1^1^2.73
Pruneda^1.0^0^0^0^0^1^0^4.26
WP: Anderson, C, Peterson, M. HBP: Diekroeger. Umpires: HP: Clayton Hamm. 1B: Ron Teague. 3B: Clay Park. T: 2:34. Att: 5,262.
Anderson, the Dodgers' 2013 first-round draft pick, giving up just one unearned run as he struck out six and scattered five hits and two walks to earn his first win in three tries against the Naturals this season. He had previously struggled against Northwest Arkansas, allowing 11 runs in nine innings his first two starts earlier this year.
"He was dynamic tonight," Naturals manager Vance Wilson said. "He really filled the zone with all his pitches. He's a high-velocity guy. I thought we got a little big on some swings where in the past we had a little better approach. But it's tough to face a guy that's that good that many times. You've got to tip your cap to him tonight. He was outstanding."
Despite the loss, the Naturals (29-13) have won 12 out of their last 14 games and 23 of 27.
Tulsa (19-22) was able to slow one of the Texas League's top offenses for a second straight night, but came away with the victory Saturday after losing 3-0 while allowing just five hits Friday. The Naturals managed just the one unearned run before first baseman Balbino Fuenmayor hit a solo home run in the ninth inning to provide the final margin.
Meanwhile, Tulsa finished with 13 hits after entering the game with a league-worst .235 average. Leadoff hitter Yadir Drake went 3-for-5 to lead four Driller multihit performers while Brandon Dixon drove in three runs.
The Drillers trailed 1-0 through four innings before breaking out for three runs in the top of the fifth against Naturals starter Christian Binford, including two unearned runs thanks to a Binford error. They scored four more in the seventh, chasing Binford, who gave up six runs, four earned, in his second start since being sent down from Triple-A Omaha.
"He kind of shot himself in the foot in that fifth inning when he makes the error on the bunt," Wilson said. "I thought we made a couple bad pitching choices with some bases open. But with that being said, he's working on some stuff obviously with him coming back here to straighten some stuff out. Overall, I thought it was a good outing for him."
Short HopsThe Naturals lost for just the fourth time at home this year, falling to 19-4.Fuenmayor went 2-for-4, extending his hitting streak to five games and tying Mike Bianucci with his team-high 10th home run. He has recorded a hit in 19 of the last 20 games.Binford was less steady in his second start for the Naturals this year, allowing the four runs, two unearned, on 10 hits in 6.1 innings Saturday after giving up just two runs in seven innings in his first start. He was 1-4 with a 5.86 ERA in six Omaha starts.
Extra Bases: The Naturals are 2-0 in rubber games this year, beating Midland 5-0 at home in mid-April and ... Former Razorback and Natural Brett Eibner is in the midst of his best start at Triple-A Omaha. Eibner entered Saturday hitting .309 with a .397 on-base percentage, both easily the best marks of his professional career. He has four home runs and 15 RBIs in 15 games.
On Deck: The Naturals will throw left-hander Jonathan Dziedzic (1-2, 3.78 ERA) today in the 6:05 p.m. series finale against Tulsa right-hander Deck McGuire (4-2, 2.72). The teams will then face off Monday in a one-game matchup in Tulsa before the Naturals head back home for a series against Corpus Christi.
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Sports on 05/24/2015